GRAPH VIEWER

• US 20110087985A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Richardson, Julia Claire, Phillips, Gregory S., Buchanan, James Brooks, Brennan, Timothy Adam, Daun, Susan Claire, Corvo, Rosie Susan, Jameson, Crispin Alexander Conrad, Wood, Paul Robert, Pratt, Mark Colin
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for providing a graphical user interface on the display device, where the graphical user interface includes a graph viewing tool for charting data. The graph viewing tool includes: (a) a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of a graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values; (b) a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and (c) a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory having data stored therein;

a communication interface configured to provide information to be displayed on a display device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface and configured to use the communication interface to provide a graphical user interface to be displayed on the display device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graph viewing tool for charting data stored in the memory, the graph viewing tool comprising;

a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of a graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values;

a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and

a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second range of values is greater than and includes the first range of values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third axis represents the entire range of values stored in the memory for the first parameter of the data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graph viewing tool further comprises:

a sliding tool displayed in the second display area that is configured to allow a user to move the first tool and the second tool simultaneously relative to the third axis, while keeping a distance between the first tool and the second tool constant, wherein the sliding tool allows the user to change the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first tool and the second tool comprise a first bar and a second bar, respectively, perpendicular to the third axis, and wherein the sliding tool comprises a third bar parallel to the third axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sliding tool comprises a scroll button proximate to an end of the third axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tool and the second tool each comprise a bar perpendicular to the third axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graph viewing tool is configured such that when the first tool and the second tool are moved toward each other, the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area is decreased, and when the first tool and the second tool are moved away from each other, the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area is increased.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second axis represents a second parameter of the data, and wherein the second display area further displays a fourth axis representing the second parameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second axis and the fourth axis display the same range of values for the second parameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the first and second tools are moved relative to each other to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis, the range of parameters represented by the second axis changes automatically based on high and low values of the parameter in the data captured within the range of the first axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second axis represents a second parameter of the data over a second range of values, and wherein the graph displays a line graph of the second parameter as a function of the first parameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first parameter is a measure of time.

14. A method of displaying data, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for display on a user terminal, wherein the graphical user interface comprises;

a first graph of a first portion of the data,

a second graph of a second portion of the data, the second portion of the data including the first portion of the data, and

a first sliding tool and a second sliding tool displayed on the second graph and configured such that a user can move the first and second sliding tools relative to each other and relative to the second graph to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph;

receiving an electronic communication from the user terminal indicating that a user moved the first and second sliding tools relative to each other and relative to the second graph; and

using a processor to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph based on the user'"'"'s movement of the first and second sliding tools relative to each other and relative to the second graph.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a scrolling tool displayed on or proximate to the second graph, the method further comprising:

receiving an electronic communication from the user terminal indicating that a user activated the scrolling tool; and

using the processor to, based on the user'"'"'s activation of the scrolling tool, move the first sliding tool and the second sliding tool simultaneously relative to the third axis while keeping a distance between the first sliding tool and the second sliding tool constant, and change the data displayed by the first graph.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic communication indicating that a user activated the scrolling tool provides an indication that the user moved the scrolling tool relative to the second graph.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic communication indicates that a user moved the first sliding tool and the second sliding tool toward each other, and wherein the method further comprises:

using the processor to decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph based on the extent that the user moved the first and second sliding tools toward each other.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic communication indicates that a user moved the first sliding tool and the second sliding tool away from each other, and wherein the method further comprises:

using the processor to increase the amount of the data displayed by the first graph based on the extent that the user moved the first and second sliding tools away from each other.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable program code stored therein, the computer-executable program code comprising:

a first computer-executable code portion configured to provide a graphical user interface comprising;

a first graph of a first portion of the data,

a second graph of a second portion of the data, the second portion of the data including the first portion of the data, and

a first sliding tool and a second sliding tool displayed on the second graph and configured such that a user can move the first and second sliding tools relative to each other and relative to the second graph to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph;

a second computer-executable program code portion configured to receive a communication indicating that a user moved the first and second sliding tools relative to each other and relative to the second graph; and

a third computer-executable program code portion configured to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph based on the received communication indicating the user'"'"'s movement of the first and second sliding tools.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a memory having data stored therein;

a communication interface configured to provide information to be displayed on a display device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface and configured to use the communication interface to provide a graphical user interface to be displayed on the display device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graph viewing tool for charting data stored in the memory, the graph viewing tool comprising;

a first graph of a first portion of the data;

a second graph of a second portion of the data, the second portion of the data including the first portion of the data; and

a selection tool displayed on the second graph and configured to allow a user to select a portion of the second graph and thereby define the data displayed by the first graph.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the selection tool comprises:

a first sliding bar and a second sliding bar displayed on the second graph and configured such that a user can move the first and second sliding bars relative to each other and relative to the second graph to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first graph and the second graph provide line graphs of monetary parameters as a function of time.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first graph and the second graph chart at least one price history for at least one security.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the graph viewing tool comprises buttons that the user can select to show or hide one or more of a plurality of security price histories.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first graph and the second graph chart assets or liabilities.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first graph and the second graph chart assets or liabilities for a plurality of financial accounts.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the graph viewing tool comprises buttons that the user can select to show or hide one or more of a plurality of financial account histories or projections.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the graph viewing tool is configured so that the second graph is displayed beneath and lined up with the first graph.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the selection tool comprises a first sliding bar and a second sliding bar displayed on the second graph and configured such that a user can move the first and second sliding bars relative to each other and relative to the second graph to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first graph, and wherein the first and second sliding bars are perpendicular to an axis of the first graph and the second graph and are substantially the height of the second graph.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein areas of the second graph selected by the selection tool are displayed in a different color or shade of color than areas of the second graph not selected by the selection tool.